Memory Issue

Question

Level 1

29 points

Memory Issue

OK, reading through the discussions here about memory upgrades I ordered the 256MB PC100 from DMS. OK, it arrived and I put it in the J4 slot right behind the 256MB that was in the J3 slot. Fired up the trusty desktop and went to the system profiler and it shows only memory in the J3 slot. Shutdown and switched the memory around and it still only shows memory in the J3. Pulled them both and put one in J5, it shows up OK. Put the other chip in J3 and it sees only the J5.

OK, now I go to DIMM Firstaid and it only shows the J5. Looking at the labels on the meory one says PC100 and 8NS and the other is a PC 133 and 7.5NS.

So it looks like the DT can only see one stick of memory at a time. Can anyone help me with this?

G3 DT, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Nov 14, 2005 6:58 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 14, 2005 8:24 PM in response to Jeb Bull

Did you reset the CUDA button after installing the Ram?

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Answer 2

Jeb Bull Author

Level 1

29 points

Nov 15, 2005 7:07 AM in response to james hill7

I had not reset the CUDA but just did, but with the same results. I put the PC100 in J3 and PC133 in J4 and got broken glass on startup. I currently have PC100 in J3 and PC133 in J5 but both DIMM First Aid and Apple Profiler only see the memory in J3.

I thought that the PC100 and PC133 were compatible, am I wrong?

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Answer 3

Jeb Bull Author

Level 1

29 points

Nov 15, 2005 7:08 AM in response to james hill7

I had not reset the CUDA but just did, but with the same results. I put the PC100 in J3 and PC133 in J4 and got broken glass on startup. I currently have PC100 in J3 and PC133 in J5 but both DIMM First Aid and Apple Profiler only see the memory in J3.

I thought that the PC100 and PC133 were compatible, am I wrong?

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Answer 4

Nov 15, 2005 7:17 AM in response to Jeb Bull

Hi Jeb,

It sounds like your DT likes all its RAM to be the same, which is common with our Beiges. The PC100 8NS is the better of your two sticks for the Beige. As much as you might not want to, if you want to increase your RAM, your best bet will be to buy more like that one.

It's not a big investment, and will make a happy improvement in your DT's performance.

Tina

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Answer 5

Jeb Bull Author

Level 1

29 points

Nov 16, 2005 4:09 AM in response to Tina Garfield

Thanks Tina-

I'll get another stick of the 8NS RAM. I appreciate your assistance.

Jeb

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Answer 6

Nov 16, 2005 6:22 AM in response to Jeb Bull

No problem, Jeb,

Just be sure to post back if you still have problems.

Tina

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Answer 7

Jeb Bull Author

Level 1

29 points

Dec 4, 2005 4:29 PM in response to Tina Garfield

Tina-

I was hoping everything was fixed but not so easy. OK, I got another stick of RAM just like the other from DMS. I loaded them in the J3 and J4 slots, pressed the CUDA, fired it up and DIMM first aid doesn't recognize what's in the J4 slot. Then pulled that out of the J4 and put in J5; that is recognized. I pulled a stick of 256MB memory with the same speed as the other two from a computer at work and put in the J4, but again, not recognized. If I put any of these chips in the J4 alone, I get broken glass on start.

Bottom Line: No matter what I put in the J4 slot, it does not recognize it. Any ideas?

Thanks

Jeb

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Answer 8

Dec 4, 2005 5:56 PM in response to Jeb Bull

It sounds like your J4 may be a bad slot. I have a Beige G3 like that (out of a dozen aquired randomly). You can get a bright light and see if it has something in it. Something as small as a hair could cause this problem.

If you still find nothing, a new old motherboard from eBay could get you back to all slots operational or under US$25.

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Answer 9

Jeb Bull Author

Level 1

29 points

Dec 5, 2005 4:23 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant, I'll take a look.

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Answer 10

Jeff

Level 6

12,328 points

Dec 5, 2005 8:42 PM in response to Jeb Bull

I wouldn't pay more than $15 for a motherboard. At this point, beige G3s can be had for as little as $20-$30, so a motherboard isn't worth more than $10-$15. If you need to replace your board, be sure that the replacement is the newer revision with the ATI Rage Pro or Rage Pro Turbo graphics chipset.

Also, did the 256 MB DIMM that you borrowed from work have 16 chips on it (8 on each side), and not 18 total (9 chips on each side = ECC)? ECC DIMMs or DIMMs with high density (256 Megabit) chips aren't compatible with the beige G3. For this reason, an 8-chip 256 MB DIMM can't be used in it, whereas an 8-chip (128 Megabit) or 16-chip (64 Megabit) 128 MB DIMM can be used.

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Answer 11

Dec 5, 2005 8:43 PM in response to Jeff

i didnt know the beige G3 had a rev of logicboard with the rage pro turbo. i thought it was only rev 1 rage II and rev 2 & 3 rage pro

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Answer 12

Jon Smith

Level 4

1,390 points

Dec 5, 2005 11:26 PM in response to Frank McHugh

Hello Frank,

Rev D = 820-1991-B. Works very nicely, too.

Regards .... jws

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